Jackson County and Commerce will throw a “March to the Mailbox Neighborhood Block Party” at Mount Calvary Baptist Church Saturday, April 10, to promote participation in the U.S. Census count.

The event will feature food, music, games for children, free T-shirts and — of course — information about the need for an accurate census count.

According to Joel Logan, Jackson County’s liaison with the U.S. Census Bureau, “March to the Mailbox” events are being held across the country in neighborhoods where participation in the 2000 Census was weak.

One of those is the Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard area in Commerce.

Thus, a party will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the parking lot of Mount Calvary Baptist Church to drum up some Census enthusiasm.

Local church choirs and groups will sing, an inflatable slide and castle will be available for kids and there will be face painting, all free. Local churches will sell food.

You have got to be kidding!!! What about my neighborhood? Let's keep spoon feeding those that pull on those that already do the right thing. It's only my tax dollars , what the heck. We already pay their way for everything else. Don't make us responsible for their iresponsiblities.

Not all people who live in this area are spoon feed. This is about the census which not only help certain people but will heelp the hole county. Right now the city of commerce needs a lot of help. Our county is considered to be in proverty. I think we should be working together to figure out how to improve our city instead of complaining. There are more educated people in the Johntown area than you think and if this city would take the time to focus on more of the positive things maybe we could grow as a hole. I am an elderly white lady and I know several of educated black people who have been turned down for jobs that they qualify for only to be given to unqualified family and friends of white familes. I think that we should respect our city as a whole and even the people who have to drive to other cities just to seek employment because they still have to pay taxes in the city they live in which is a place where they are not worthy to work for.You can count on one hand the number of blacks who have good paying jobs in our city.

I do wonder why I save for an education, a home, a family or a car. When I could of just sat on my butt and waited for someone to give me something. But what I ponder most is why earnings are taken away from those that better themselfs to give to those that sit or lay and have babies that are dependent not on responsible parents but on the government for assistance.

What's "sad" is how little people like you know about the welfare system or any sort of government aid. People like you think they sit on a pedestal and are not capable of falling on hard times so they see it fit to judge others. If you're ever in desperate need and someone comes to your aid you may not be so quick to disparage others.

I'm afraid politics are entering churches on both sides. Turn on WJJC on Saturday morning. There is an older man Smith I think is his name he spends the whole time talking about his hatred for Obama, the government, blah, blah blah. I don't think he is the real preacher but some church on Harris Street pays money to allow him to spew his hatred. Jesus's message of loving all people has missed this guy.

I whole heartedly agree with "What about us," What about US? Why is it our tax dollars go to those that don't pay taxes and the black communities. Is it against the law to be white now, why is it not politically correct to help white people? We have neighborhoods too, and typically ours don't sell drugs, have prostitution and violence problems. If you hold it in our neighborhood we will embrace EVERYONE and everyone will be safe and welcome.

The newspaper should have known better than to post this story. It was inherently bound to become a venue for racist comments like those of "Dave Y." Those kind of comments are unbelievable. "Is it against the law to be white now, why is not politically correct to help white people?" I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you must be joking. Have you ever been stopped for driving while white? Ever seen cops constantly patrolling white, suburban neighborhoods? I don't think so. I myself am white, but gracious enough to realize that in this country there is nothing more priveleged than being born white, and especially male. Are you aware that being a poor white family is statistically better than being a middle class black family? I doubt you know that. Because like most other people, you haven't taken the time to learn anything or to educate yourself. Statistically speaking, the majority of people on welfare are white. That's just a fact. The percent of people who abuse government assistance is miniscule, but to listen to the people on this post, you'd think it was a huge majority. The elderly white lady at the top of this post, "keep spoon feeding", makes an excellent point. Just because you are poor and white doesn't mean you understand what it's like to be black in this country. Denying the racism that exists is itself a form of racism. Just take the time to sit on one University level Sociology course. This is basic stuff. But old-time Southern culture prevents progress and causes good people, like I'm sure Dave Y. is, to be uninformed and come across as cross-burning racists. The history of this region is not one to be proud of. Don't reveal your inner ugliness in a small-town newspaper post. White people today still remain arrogant and ignorant about things like welfare, black culture, and apparently things like the census, because the point of this post has NOTHING to do with race at all. It's encouraging participation for the census which affects voting and redistricting. It has no affect on government assistance. But once again, the misinformed seem to be the ones that want to yell the loudest.

Very will said Delano Finch! And for Dave Y, I am a very educated Black lady, and have never been "spoon fed", I've always work for everything I acquired in life. And done a lot for my communities! And "Johntown" is a old name which I have never referred to as to where I live. I live in Commerce, when you ride down old 441, there isn't a sign or street which reads, "Johntown".

Yes, it is a general agreement that "Johntown" is a derogatory for this particular neighborhood. My grandmother told me the name came from old White people, who used the name then and now to degrade where some Black people lived. She taught us never to refer to where we lived as "Johntown", we lived in Commerce, and the name "Johntown" was racist.
Mark Beardsley, you like to research people, why don't you research where the name "Johntown" originated from.

FYI, DAVE Y...I work in the heart of Commerce and part of my responsibility is to provide financial assistance to the needy in Commerce. The vast majority of my clients are WHITE. The vast majority of the people I see who try to lie, cheat,and scam their way into getting extra assistance are WHITE. Every person who has threatened me because they were refused assistance has been WHITE. If I see one of my white clients around town, they will run in other direction. However, my black clients will stop, say hello, ask how my family is doing, etc. So before you shoot off your ignorant WHITE mouth about things you know nothing of, perhaps you should look in your own backyard. And because I am sure that your racism is not limited only to African Americans, here's something else for you to chew on...in 3+ years of serving the citizens of Commerce and doling out thousands of dollars in financial assistance, I have NEVER had a client who was hispanic, latin, or Mexican.

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